What Does Exodus 29:13 Mean?
You take all the fat that covers the innards, and the lobe above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and send them up in smoke upon the altar.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.THE KEY
The word for the body’s inwards shares its root with “draw near” and “offering,” tying what lies deepest within to what is brought to the altar.
THE MEANING
The verse names the animal’s actual inner parts: the fat covering the inwards, the tissue above the liver, and both kidneys with their fat. These are taken from inside the animal and burned on the altar. The offering reaches beneath the visible surface to the hidden organs.
THE ROOT
קֶרֶב
qerev
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach or come near; qerev names the inner part or midst.
“innards” in this verse is qerev. Qerev, “inwards,” belongs to the same consonant family as words for drawing near and offering. English separates the body’s interior from the act of bringing an offering, while Hebrew links them through the root: the hidden part is brought near.
ALSO GROWS
qarav: To approach or draw near.
קָרַב
This verb makes the root’s sense of nearness explicit.
korban: An offering, something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The offering shares the root of “inwards,” linking the body’s inner part with what is brought to the altar.
הִקְטַרְתָּ
hiqṭartā
GROWS FROM
קטר
q-ṭ-r
To make smoke, or cause something to smoke.
“send up in smoke” in this verse is hiqṭartā. The altar verb is hiqṭartā, from qatar: to make smoke. Its root also names incense and smoke, so the verse describes the organs being consumed in fire and becoming smoke.
ALSO GROWS
qetoret: Incense.
קְטֹרֶת
Incense is named from the same root of making smoke.
qitor: Smoke or vapor.
קִיטוֹר
This word makes explicit what the altar verb describes: the smoke produced by burning.
THE PATTERN
The sacred encounter reaches the inward part, where what is hidden is exposed or given.
And the priest sends them up in smoke upon the altar, bread of an offering of fire for a fragrance that settles. All the fat is the LORD's.Behold, you delight in truth in the inward parts; and in the sealed place you make me perceive wisdom.Therefore I urge you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to set your bodies beside God as a living sacrifice, set apart, well-pleasing to him, which is your true service.THE THREAD
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If anyone of you brings near a drawing near to the LORD, you shall bring near your drawing near from the cattle, from the herd and from the flock.The Hebrew calls the offering korban and uses a verb from the same root, קרב, for bringing it near. That is the root family of Exodus’s qerev, “inwards”: what English names as the interior is linked to what is brought near.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us